The Straight Key Century Club (SKCC)
is the fastest growing group of mechanical-key CW operators in
the world. First organized in January 2006, our club has grown rapidly
to include thousands of licensed amateur-radio operators from all corners of the
globe.

Here's how it works:

-- Membership is free.
-- SKCC numbers are issued for life. Once you get it, it's yours.
-- Exchange numbers using a straight key, bug, or side-swiper.

The December Newsletter Issue Has Been Posted!

What's New...

Please note the change in the Primary 160 Meters calling freq.

Previously, the primary calling frequency on 160 meters was 1.820 Mhz. The new Pprimary frequency is now 1.813.5 Mhz. All calling frequencies can be found here.

The SKCC Yahoo! Group is moving to groups.io !

The SKCC Board of Directors has decided to move the main SKCC discussion group from Yahoo! to groups.io. A notice has been posted to the Yahoo! group and the transition is expected to start early the week of Labor Day.

Groups.io provides an automated transition process that has worked well with a few other groups and we will be using it to transition the Yahoo! group.

You can expect to receive a notice from groups.io to join the new group. However, if you'd like to get started now just follow this link SKCC on groups.io

SKCC's Monthly Operating Events

Monthly Straight Key Night

SKCC Straight Key Night (SKN) occurs from 0000 - 2359 UTC on the first day of each month. It is not a contest, so there is no need to submit logs. But it is a good opportunity to work toward the club's achievement awards. The operating event, the club's first, was inspired by the ARRL's annual Straight Key Night. The SKCC's founders wanted to have Straight Key Night every month -- a good way to bring members together on the air on a regular basis. The tradition continues!

Straight Key Sprint-Europe: Thursday, 7-DEC, from 1945 - 2215 UTC

The Monthly SKCC Euro-Sprint (SKS-E) occurs on the first Thursday of the month. The event time varies according to British Summer Time (BST). BST details can be found here TimeAndDate.com

Straight Key Sprint: Wednesday, 22-NOV, from 0000 - 0200 UTC

Are you new to CW?

Then check out our CW Beginner's Corner page. It has plenty of basic information about CW operations that will help turn those first CW QSOs from jitters to joy.

If you want personalized, on-air help, check out our Morse Elmers page. You'll find contact information for members who have volunteered to serve as CW mentors. Drop one an email to set up an on-air schedule. Or just visit the club's sked page. You'll see a list of members logged in and can use the page's messaging functions to reach a member to arrange an on-air contact.

You have lots of help available to you as you become more adept at using the original instant-messaging mode! You'll find links to the Beginner's and Elmer pages in the navigation column at left under Getting Started. The link to the Sked Page appears under SKCC Community.

Odds 'n' Ends

Looking For A Sked?

Visit the club's sked site at http://sked.skccgroup.com. It's a fun, friendly place. New members and beginners are encouraged to join! No commands to learn, no Mickey Moussing around with new software. The system simply asks you to provide some basic info about yourself and, presto, you get a list of all SKCC members looking for some CW fun! Can't get any easier than that! A hearty "thank you" to Mark, K7MJG, for developing the sked page. A link to it also appears under SKCC Community in the navigation column at left.

SKCC Files & Downloads Section

Looking for SKCC related software? Download club related software free.
Programs like W5ZR's SKCC Awards tracker. If you are a software
author and have club or CW related programs to contribute, please
contact the webmaster@skccgroup.com See the Files and downloads under Member services at left.

What's an SKCC Elmer?

We have all faced the daunting task of firing-up the radio for that
first CW contact. Now you can take that shaky, uncertain hand and turn
it into a confident, firm fist with the help of our group of SKCC Morse
Code Elmers. Simply click on the Morse Elmers link at left, choose
from the list of Elmers, send him or her an email requesting a sked, and before you
know it you'll be enjoying the thrill of sending and receiving solid CW. The
SKCC Elmer Manager is Jeff K9JP.

Can You Spare a Key For a Good Cause?

Consider supporting the Halfway House for Keys program, run by a group
of hams led by Michael Aretsky, N6MQL, SKCC 5051. The program provides
free or very-low-cost straight keys, bugs, and cootie keys to young,
newly licensed amateur radio operators who have shown an interest in
using CW. The goal of the group is to keep Morse code alive and working
on the air. All recipients are required to use their donated keys
for at least one hour a week on the air, not just with a practice
oscillator. They also are required to meet minimum guidelines to
receive a key.

If you would like to donate a spare straight key, bug, or cootie key in any condition, or if you have keys' parts you would like to donate, Mike's
group would be very grateful for your contribution. Keys and spare
parts can go
directly to Mike at:

All of the money collected pays for parts that have not been donated or
for postage, which we pay if a recipient can't pay for it. NONE of the
money is kept by the Halfway House members for personal use.

If you have any questions about the program, would like to donate a key
or parts, or would like to be considered as a recipient for key
donation, please do not hesitate to email Mike at n6mql@arrl.net.

SKCC Shopping Mall

So now you've joined SKCC, you have your mechanical sending device,
radios, antennae, and other station accessories. But do you have the
SKCC "look"? Here are some gift ideas you might think about when
gift-giving/receiving time arrives. Why not stop by some of the vendors
who are providing SKCC-related gear and do a little virtual window
shopping?

For an SKCC name badge, stop by the SignMan of Baton Rouge, purveyor
of the SKCC badge shown at left. If you're interested in pinning one on your shirt pocket, you can order an SKCC badge here.

If embroidered hats are your thing, visit Asterid's Embroidery
and Quilts for a look at some au courant SKCC chapeaus! If you've
got hair, complement it with a like-colored hat. If you don't have
hair, well, protect that dome! .